Chelsea loan Army: How Ian Maatsen has got on at Burnley

Currently, 22 Chelsea players on the men’s side are out on loan, attempting to move their professional careers in the right direction. Levi Colwill is now coming into his own under Roberto De Zerbi, having accumulated 90 minutes in six out of the last seven matches for Brighton in all competitions. Over in the Championship, the 20-year-old Dutch wing-back, Ian Maatsen has been one of the most important players for promotion-bound Burnley under new manager Vincent Kompany. In his second consecutive season in the second-tier of English football, Maatsen has demonstrated he is ready for a potential loan move for the next campaign in the Premier League.

Kompany has started the Dutch wingback in 21 of the 22 contests in all competitions for the Clarets, netting four goals and four assists. His four assists stand second best among the Championship leaders. Even though his expected goals are below one this season, Maatsen has still been able to become a top-six goal scorer on the club that leads the second tier in goals scored. Playing predominantly at left-wing back in a back four, Maatsen has collected 56 shot-creating actions on the Clarets so far during this campaign, behind only three-year Premier League veteran, Josh Brownhill.

His show-stopping display against Swansea City to secure Burnely’s sixth straight win in the league produced two top-class goals with his strong left foot. A mesmerizing free kick and rocket into the top of the net within the first 22 minutes put him even more on the radar of clubs around England, especially the Blues who could use another young wingback with all of the injuries that have piled up in that position.

Following that outing, Kompany raved about the young CFC defender:

"“That second goal just traveled and kept going. Ian has given so much defensively and then he was able to add that to his game – not many players can give you that.”"